Exploring Downtown Denver plus Framing Art Quilts

A number of quilt artists are planning to attend SAQA's Visioning Conference in Denver, CO next May 19-22 in Denver, CO. I had that very much in mind on my visit to downtown Denver earlier this month. The Conference is at The Brown Palace Hotel.

Here are some useful pieces of information to keep in mind as the conference approaches.

• The Brown Palace Hotel is located on 17th St. One block away is the 16th St. Mall which stretches for 16 blocks and has a seemingly continuous free shuttle running its length. I never had to wait more than 5 minutes for a shuttle to transport me quickly from one end of the mall to the other. This opened up all sort of possibilities for restaurants and shopping. SAQA has arranged discount hotel rates at the Comfort Inn that is connected to the Brown Palace. However, if you are unable to stay there, there are many hotels located off the mall that are convenient, given the shuttle. I stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn on 17th St. and the staff was unusually helpful.

• I would be remiss not to mention what quickly became my favorite restaurant that is located just off the mall. Rioja is highly rated and difficult to get reservations for, but very much worth the effort. Their website describes the cuisine as "featuring a menu inspired by Mediterranean ingredients and influenced by local and seasonal products." I was able to eat there twice - I had to go back a second time for more of their Apple Basil Soup. Both times it was a meal to remember and quite reasonably priced.

• A good website for summary information on downtown Denver is coloradoskiauthority.com which lays out clearly city transportation, shopping, and airport transportation.

• Of particular interest to quilt artists may be what is called the Golden Triangle Museum District, not far from the conference location. There are over 50 art galleries in the general area as well as the Denver Art Museum, the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Arts and the Byers-Evans Museum which is a restored home from the 1912-24 period. In addition, there is the Museum of Contemporary Art which is also off the 16th St mall.

I suspect that all of us who are attending the SAQA Conference will find more than enough to keep us busy!

One Last Thing on Framing Art Quilts


I was just web browsing and found this reference for simple frames with glass and without mats. Thought it might be of interest as it seems there are always on-going discussions of how to hang quilt art. I know some people like to use glass and some don't. If this is of interest to you, here is the link.

The Denver Art Museum

My visit to the Denver Art Museum was brief but inspiring. I visited the museum on a Saturday afternoon, the day before its massive King Tut Exhibit was closing and, as a result,  it was pretty mobbed. But, since I was interested in the rest of the museum, the crowds were really not a problem.

I headed first for the floor that specifically had the words, Textile Art, in its description. Keeping in mind that there is another museum in downtown Denver, the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Arts, that I would assume has a good deal of textiles in it, I did not expect to find an abundance of quilt art in the Denver Art Museum. What I found was one room with some massive traditional quilts. The quilts were amazing in their artistry and the manner of display really took your breath away.

When I think back on my visit to the Museum, one of the most outstanding points was perhaps the spaciousness of the exhibits. The Hamilton Building, which housed the King Tut exhibit, along with Western American and Modern and Contemporary art, is a unique titanium structure designed by architect Daniel Libeskind.

Designed by Daniel Libeskind

Another major building in the complex is a castle-like structure designed by Gio Ponti of Milan, Italy. As a result, the galleries for exhibits all allow for spacious displays which give the viewer perspective as well as the ability to get up close and appreciate individual works.

Gallery in the Asian Collection

I found myself fascinated with intricate designs and rich colors where ever I wandered.

An Iranian earthenware dish from the 900s

A section of a wooden palace facade from the Swat Valley in Pakistan from 1835. 

Wandering through the museum for the short amount of time that I had only whet my appetite for more exploration of art in Denver when I return in May for the SAQA Vision Conference!

Extra Note on Giveaway

I was taking a few minutes to just browse some of the blogs that I follow and just have to mention that Jane Sassaman is giving away a copy of Noriko Endo's new book, Confetti Landscape on her blog. Noriko's work looks amazing. Check it out if you have time!